The last two hurricane seasons forced 42 percent of Florida voters to pay for home repairs
out of their own pocket, with 72 percent of them spending over $1,000. Home and auto
insurance premiums have increased in the last two years, 77 percent report, with most of
the increases at $250 or more, according to a Quinnipiac University poll released today.

The survey of 1,311 Florida voters also found Democratic Sen. Bill Nelson retains
a 59 - 26 percent lead in his re-election race, ahead of U.S. Rep. Katherine Harris.

Rep. Harris does no better than three other generally unknown Republican
challengers, and gets only 35 percent of the Republican votes in a primary matchup, the
independent Quinnipiac (KWIN uh-pe-ack) University poll finds.

Three in five Florida voters say the last two hurricane seasons had brought "serious
damage" to their area and 42 percent said the damage had forced them to make repairs not
covered by insurance. Of this 42 percent, 27 percent paid more than $5,000; 45 percent
paid $1,000 to $5,000; 16 percent between $500 and $999, and 11 percent less than $500.

Of the 77 percent who report their insurance has gone up because of the hurricanes,
25 percent say their increase has been less than $250; 31 percent peg it at $250 - $499; 22
percent at $500 - $1,000, and 16 percent more than $1,000.

"Hurricanes are not just hazardous to Floridians' health, but to their wallets as
well," said Peter Brown, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute.
"The repair and insurance costs constitute a 'hurricane tax' that has become a fact of life."

For McBride, Collins or Monroe, at least 72 percent haven't heard enough to form
an opinion.

"Although there are only 10 weeks until the primary, Republicans seem to have
questions about whether they want Rep. Harris to be their nominee," said Brown. "That
being said, McBride has a decidedly uphill climb in front of him. No matter who wins the
Republican primary, Sen. Nelson appears to be in very strong shape for re-election."

From June 20 - 26, Quinnipiac University surveyed 1,311 Florida registered voters
with a margin of error of +/- 2.7 percentage points. The survey includes 520 Republicans,
and a margin of error of +/- 4.3 percent in the GOP primary matchups.

The Quinnipiac University Poll, directed by Douglas Schwartz, Ph.D., conducts
public opinion surveys in Florida, Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, Connecticut and
the nation as a public service and for research.

For additional data-www.quinnipiac.edu and quicklinks

3. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Bill Nelson is handling his job
as United States Senator?

32. Have the hurricanes during the last two years made you more likely
to leave when a storm is forecast to hit your area than you were previously?

Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom

Yes 38% 35% 45% 36% 33% 42%
No 59 62 52 62 63 54
DK/NA 3 3 3 2 3 4

North/
PnHnd Bay Cntrl SthW SthE

Yes 49% 30% 34% 44% 38%
No 48 68 62 54 57
DK/NA 3 2 3 2 5

37. (If registered republican) If the 2006 Republican primary for United
States Senator were being held today and the candidates were Katherine
Harris, LeRoy Collins Jr., Peter Monroe and William McBride for whom would
you vote?

TREND: (If registered republican) If the 2006 Republican primary for United
States Senator were being held today and the candidates were Katherine Harris,
LeRoy Collins Jr., Peter Monroe and William McBride for whom would you vote?